Nick Oettinger, managing director of TFR Group, said: “I cannot stress enough the severity of the issue now facing the country. This spells disaster for future generations, who now face the horrifying prospect of seeing precious green space piled high with decaying mountains of mattresses and other waste that simply cannot be disposed of properly.”

The benefits of tackling bulky waste extend far beyond preventing a landfill crisis. If just 50 percent of the mattresses currently being discarded were made up of recycled materials, CO2 emissions from the waste stream would be reduced by 34 percent and 85,000 tonnes of raw materials would be saved every year.

Nick said: “There are a number of promising solutions, but the country needs to heed this warning now and transform its recycling processes before the dangerously limited time runs out.”